APPLETON - Nine people spoke at the Appleton School Board meeting Monday night in support of a petition to have the school district make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a formal day of observance.

They were part of a contingent of about 30 people who attended the meeting because they feel the school district should observe the federal holiday. The topic was not on the school board agenda, so no action was taken.

Family First Ministries, whose pastor is Appleton School Board member Alvin T. Dupree, started the petition at change.org. Hard copies of the petition have also been circulating in the community. As of Monday, Dupree said about 2,000 signatures had been collected.

Sarah Long-Radloff said King's legacy has reverberated around the world, with his words being quoted most recently at the wedding of Britain's Prince Harry to American actress Meghan Markle.

Long-Radloff moved to Appleton in 1974, when she was among the few African Americans living in the city. She raised her children here, and they went through the school district at a time when King's birthday was not observed. She said now is the time to make a change.

"We have the opportunity to help them (young people) grab hold of all that Dr. Martin Luther King stood for. ... We have a chance to continue to speak forth and help others to know we're not going to stay where we were. We're going to take a step. And we're not going to step forward one by one. We're going to come all together because that's what America is about," she said. "United we stand."

Another concern raised by a few speakers was what students learn about King in Appleton schools. Student Divine Dupree said educational opportunities related to King and his legacy are lacking. Most students know about King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech, but little else about the civil rights leader.

Part of the reason Alvin Dupree and Family First Ministries started the petition was to unite the community. In the past, when school has been scheduled on King's birthday, parents who want to observe the day have had to call in to excuse their children. Alvin Dupree said the majority of parents who excuse their students for the day are African American, which causes division.

"It is my desire that every board member sees that this is not just me as an individual speaking on his personal desires, but rather it's a community of people who feel that by not observing Martin Luther King's birthday, it's only dividing us," he said. "But rather if we do observe Martin Luther King's birthday it's only going to help move us in the right direction of feeling and unity."

During the meeting, board President Kay Eggert said students will not be in school on Martin Luther King's birthday in 2019 because it's a records day in the district. The 2018-19 calendar was approved by the board last fall. The board plans to continue the discussion as the calendar for the 2019-2020 year is put together, she said.

Furthermore, the board will address the education concerns raised by the public at a Programs and Services Committee meeting this summer.

"I can confidently say the board supports honoring Martin Luther King and his legacy," Eggert said.

Outside of their district duties, Appleton Supt. Judy Baseman and Alvin Dupree are putting together a committee to plan a community day of service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2019. The service activities would not interfere with Lawrence University's annual celebration, which takes place in the evening.

After the meeting, Baseman said district leaders will work with the community to figure out how best to honor King.

"We agree with the community input in terms of the importance of recognizing and celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ... I think at this point the question is what does that recognition look like?

"Right now we have educational programs in our classrooms on that day, but are we at a point where we need to look at recognizing that national holiday with a day off of school for that particular purpose? So that's the question that has been raised," she said.